beating diabetes

There is a myth that diets don’t work. The truth is diets do work. But only while you’re on them. It’s what you do when you come off your diet that measures whether you will maintain your weight loss, or see that weight creep back up.

Most people go on a diet after looking in the mirror and seeing they have gained weight, or when their clothes become too tight. Then they decide to lose weight by going on a diet. Which is just another word for Denial. I can’t eat this, it has too much sugar. I can’t eat that because it has too many carbs. I can’t eat that because it has too much fat.

So you become more fixated on what you can’t eat. You eat like a rabbit for as long as you can stand or until you reach your goal. Then you come off your diet and go back to your old eating habits. Which…

…is why you gained weight in the first place. And what do you think is going to happen? This is the very essence of yo-yo dieting. It becomes a self perpetuating vicious circle until something changes.

The other problem with the standard method of dieting is when you focus on what you can’t eat, you set up cravings. Have you ever noticed how when you go on a diet most of the television commercials seem to focus on food? And usually high calorie foods. They’ve always been there but you didn’t notice because you’ve always been able to freely have them when you want. Then you go on a diet, or a Denial, and suddenly you notice these ads every time they’re shown. Because you are craving those foods and you’re telling yourself you can’t have them because…diet. The worst thing is once you come off your diet suddenly you can satisfy all those cravings so you’re most likely to eat these foods over the next week or two because you can. You could easily regain 5 or 10 pounds in the first week or two just satisfying all those cravings.

Giving up foods because they are high in sugar or carbs is not the ideal way to keep weight off. It does work, but it has to be sustainable long term. Portion control and tracking calories is the best and most effective way to not only lose weight, but keep it off. I’ve been with a calorie tracking app, MyFitnessPal, for three years now. I’ve successfully lost the weight I wanted to lose and I’m maintaining very well. Simply because I know how many calories I should be eating daily and how many calories I am eating daily. I haven’t had to give up a single food item I enjoy. I also exercise almost daily. I run, I walk, I work out at the gym. I’m 100% focused on keeping my healthy lifestyle. Because that’s the secret of maintaining weight loss. By making it a lifestyle. If I go over calorie once in a while it’s ok. I don’t panic. I am not going to derail all my efforts because I eat unhealthy once in a while. And we have to live. You have celebrations, parties, birthdays, the holiday season. You have to be able to enjoy life. And I do. I eat under calorie probably at least 80% of the time. And the funny thing is once you’ve been at this healthy lifestyle for a while your binging habits change. Overeating for me now looks very different to how I used to eat when I was being bad. You find you don’t want to eat crazy after a while. You don’t enjoy it and it’s not worth the uncomfortable bloated feeling you get the next day.

There will be people who will say there has to be more to losing weight than eating less and moving more. They are right, of course. It’s a psychological battle most of all. The most critical ingredient is a healthy mindset. It’s a process and you have to commit to it. Yes, you can have crazy days if you want, as long as the rest of the time you make a serious effort to stay under calorie. But you have to be determined and keep your eyes on the goal. There will be frustration. There will be times it doesn’t seem to be working. The scale doesn’t move. Or worse, the scale ticks up. That’s when you will be sorely tempted to just give up. That’s when you need to have other weapons in your fight to lose weight. Measure yourself once a month. Measure your waist, your hips. Compare the numbers each month. Take photos before you start your journey so you can make comparisons. Pay attention to how your clothes are fitting. Nothing boosts your confidence more than dropping a pant size. All these things will keep you motivated and show you the process is working even when the scale isn’t co-operating.

Be aware there will be temptations along the way. Someone brings donuts in to work almost daily, or a friend keeps inviting you out to eat at high calorie places all too regularly. You have to learn to pick your battles and know it’s okay to give in sometimes. It’s a lifestyle, after all, and you you have to be able to enjoy your life.

Two years ago I decided to start running for my health. It was one of the most important decisions I have ever made. Because of that decision I lost 50 lbs and got off diabetes medication. I could have just stayed as I was, wishing I was slimmer, wishing I could get my sugar levels under control.

Instead I made a choice. I started small. The first day I ran I couldn’t even run a quarter of a mile. But I was out there every day. Walking and running. At first walking much more than running. Gradually I increased my running time and distance until I was running more than I was walking. Then one day I didn’t need to take a walking break at all. Now I run a few times a week. I run anything from 4 to 6 miles. Sometimes I can run longer distances. It may not seem much compared to some runners but my running has taken me to a totally different place, emotionally.

I no longer wish I was slim.

I am slim.

I no longer wish I was off diabetes medication.

I am off diabetes medication.

All this because I made a simple choice.

One day while I was walking I chose to run.

Whatever you are thinking of doing, whatever you wish you could do, just start.

So after a 5 mile run I came home to great news. I got my bloodwork back before my latest doctor visit tomorrow. My A1C was 5.2. December 2014 my A1C was 7.2 and my doctor wanted to put me on a second medication, one that’s strongly linked with causing liver problems.

No, thank you!

I had already been taking Metformin since August 2008. Well, that was the kick up the butt I needed. I joined @MyFitnesspal and started running and by April 21st (my birthday) I was able to stop taking Metformin altogether. I have been drug free since then. I lost a total of 35 lbs since I started that health journey. I have had no problem maintaining my weight loss.

In June 2015 my A1C was 5.8. Last August it was 5.3 and now it’s down to 5.2. For those that don’t know, the A1C is a blood test that gives a three month snapshot of how your body’s blood glucose level is. There seem to be some slight disagreement on the exact numbers but generally if your A1C is 6.5 or higher you are considered diabetic.

To anyone who is type 2 diabetic: You CAN beat it. You CAN get off medication. You CAN live a healthy life. But it isn’t easy. It requires a serious lifestyle change. It requires hard work. It requires dedication. The only question is…are you willing to do what it takes to turn your health around? I did. I’m living proof that you can do anything you set your mind to.